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Ghostty

A native emulator for macOS and Linux built on libghostty, the same core that xterm+ uses. Its documentation is unusual in listing every escape sequence with a statement of intended behavior.

Identity

  • TERM: xterm-ghostty (ships its own terminfo).
  • TERM_PROGRAM: ghostty; TERM_PROGRAM_VERSION carries the version.
  • GHOSTTY_RESOURCES_DIR and GHOSTTY_BIN_DIR are set.
  • XTVERSION: DCS > | ghostty <version> ST.

Documentation

Notable behavior

  • Implements the Kitty graphics and keyboard protocols; does not implement Sixel.
  • Implements DEC private mode 2027 (grapheme clustering) and mode 2048 (in-band resize notifications).
  • Supports OSC 8, 52, 7, 133, 9, 777, and synchronized output (2026).
  • Ships shell integration that is injected automatically for supported shells.
  • Documents each sequence with a status page; treat those pages as the authoritative intent for libghostty-based terminals, including xterm+.

Version notes

1.x.y numbering; see the release notes.

Probe

ghostty --version
tools/query '\033[>0q'

Feature support

Records are maintained independently in tdn/terminals/ghostty.yaml. Unlisted features are unknown. See the comparison for all features.

FeatureSupportAs ofNotes and evidence
Kitty
apc-kitty-graphics		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).) | Also recorded: Yes ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).); Placeholders Yes; animation No

import import

BEL urgency/visual
c0-bel-attention		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

14/16 pixel sizes
csi-14-16-t-pixel-sizes		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

18 size in cells
csi-18-t-text-size		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

22/23 title stack
csi-22-23-t-title-stack		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

ED 3 (scrollback)
csi-3-j-erase-scrollback		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

DECRQM
csi-decrqm		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

DECSLRM / ?69
csi-decslrm		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

DECSTBM
csi-decstbm		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

DECSTR
csi-decstr		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

ED/EL/ECH/ICH/DCH/IL/DL
csi-editing-operations		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

modifyOtherKeys
csi-modify-other-keys		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes; Documented in its VT reference ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).)

import

REP
csi-rep		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

SU/SD
csi-su-sd-scroll		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Kitty keyboard protocol
csi-u-kitty-keyboard		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes; All flags ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).)

import

DECRQSS
dcs-decrqss		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes; [VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt/dcs/decrqss)

import

Sixel
dcs-sixel		UnsupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedNo ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).) | Also recorded: No ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).); Not implemented; `?` for roadmap

import import

XTGETTCAP
dcs-xtgettcap		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes; [VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt/dcs/xtgettcap)

import

1000 mouse
dec-mode-1000-mouse		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1002 button motion
dec-mode-1002-button-motion		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1003 all motion
dec-mode-1003-all-motion		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1004 focus
dec-mode-1004-focus		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).)

import

1006 sgr mouse
dec-mode-1006-sgr-mouse		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1007 alternate scroll
dec-mode-1007-alternate-scroll		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1015 urxvt mouse
dec-mode-1015-urxvt-mouse		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1016 pixel mouse
dec-mode-1016-pixel-mouse		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

1049 alternate screen
dec-mode-1049-alternate-screen		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

2004 bracketed paste
dec-mode-2004-bracketed-paste		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes | Also recorded: Yes; Configurable sanitization, `clipboard-paste-protection` ([Ghostty configuration reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/config/reference#clipboard-paste-protection).)

import import

2026 synchronized output
dec-mode-2026-synchronized-output		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Grapheme cluster mode (2027)
dec-mode-2027-grapheme-clusters		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes | Also recorded: Yes ([Ghostty VT reference, mode 2027](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt/csi/decset).); Listed in the VT reference

import import

2031 color scheme reports
dec-mode-2031-color-scheme-reports		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

2048 in band resize
dec-mode-2048-in-band-resize		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

?45 reverse wrap
dec-mode-45-reverse-wrap		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

win32-input-mode
dec-mode-9001-win32-input		UnknownImported · unverifiedUnversioned?; Not a Unix protocol; not documented by any of them

import

DECSCA/DECSED/DECSEL
dec-selective-erase		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

DEC Special Graphics
esc-dec-special-graphics		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes ([Ghostty VT reference](https://ghostty.org/docs/vt).)

import

OSC 0/2 set
osc-0-2-title		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 10/11 query
osc-10-11-default-colors-query		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 10/11 set
osc-10-11-default-colors-set		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

104/110/111 reset
osc-104-110-111-color-reset		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 12 cursor
osc-12-cursor-color		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

aid= / cl=
osc-133-aid-cl		PartialImported · unverifiedUnversionedPartial

import

OSC 133 A–D
osc-133-prompt-marks		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 1337 (any)
osc-1337-family		PartialImported · unverifiedUnversionedPartial

import

OSC 4 query
osc-4-palette-query		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 4 set
osc-4-palette-set		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 52 read
osc-52-read		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes; `clipboard-write` (default `allow`), `clipboard-read` (default `ask`)

import

OSC 52 write
osc-52-write		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes; `clipboard-write` (default `allow`), `clipboard-read` (default `ask`)

import

OSC 7
osc-7-working-directory		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 777 notify
osc-777-notification		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 8 hyperlinks
osc-8-hyperlinks		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 9;4 progress
osc-9-4-progress		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes (1.2)

import

OSC 9 notify
osc-9-notification		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

OSC 99
osc-99-notification		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

256 colors
sgr-256-colors		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Italic 3
sgr-3-italic		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Colon form 38:2
sgr-38-2-colon-form		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Truecolor 38;2
sgr-38-2-truecolor		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Underline styles 4:n
sgr-4-underline-styles		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Blink 5
sgr-5-blink		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Overline 53
sgr-53-overline		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Underline color 58
sgr-58-underline-color		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Strikethrough 9
sgr-9-strikethrough		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Ships its own shell scripts
shell-integration-scripts		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Prompt redraw on resize
shell-prompt-resize		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

bce
terminfo-bce		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Bold-is-bright option
text-bold-is-bright		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Synthesized box drawing
text-box-drawing		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Color emoji rendering
text-color-emoji		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Italic face
text-italic-face		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

Bundled Unicode tables
text-unicode-tables		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes

import

VS16 widens
text-vs16-width		SupportedImported · unverifiedUnversionedYes ([Ghostty](https://github.com/ghostty-org/ghostty), `src/unicode`.)

import